The buds, flowers and bird movements are the norms in a garden. It happens each day in all seasons of the year.
It occurred to me yesterday, how much I am present to others in the orbit of my contacts.
It was while listening to the ups and downs of a family who have health related challenges and job related stress, I had a closer view of the disturbed rhythm in that life family. It was an occasion to feel sensitised about the rhythm we are called to live-mindfully of others.
The buds, flowers and birds make a garden a place of hospitality! It is when we create space and attention for others, we become neighbours to others.
The news of a family who lost their adult son in an accident at sea and a senior friend who is now in residential care after a stroke, disturbed Anna and me this week, as we have had regular contacts with these two families for several years.
Anna's school friend who visited us from the United States of America, during this week brought news of people feeling displaced from their comfort level by the short sighted and partisan views of the current president of the USA towards the immigrants resident in the USA for years!
I heard the member of parliament from Manipur speaking sorrowfully in the Parliament, about how the ethnic violence in that state left hundreds homeless and children having had to discontinue schooling. He was helplessly calling the attention of the central government to intervene.
The rhythm and ritual of life was to live neighbour friendly! But I wonder if leaderships of some nations are carried away by their own prospects and prosperity! I feel that parents too get preoccupied by their own pursuit and prospects that children get displaced from their orbit of attention!
The nature still follows its rhythm and rituals of being present to bring their gifts for us. I suspect that humans seek more for themselves and less and less for the welfare of their neighbours!
The Christmas is a season of giving and remembering others!
M.C.Mathew(text and photo)
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